After an idle period when nothing needed to be questioned, and FACTS began leaning towards the informational, rather than the investigatory, our council has recently been working overtime to keep pace with actions and events which we believe needed community attention.
Candidate Interviews: Although we intended to interview all candidates, time constraints persuaded us to focus upon interviewing the unfamiliar candidates, believing the incumbents had been in the community eye for nearly three years, and their backgrounds, abilities and visions for Fairfield Harbour were well known.
More recently, we sent the same interview request with the same questions, and the same option to preview and amend their answers before publication to Messrs. Hewett and Rothengast. They have not responded.
Questions: FACTS has been approached by property owners who have asked the POA privately and/or on public forums the following questions which remain unanswered. We hope they’ll answer, if not to us, then to you, the property owners of Fairfield Harbour.
First, our DORs state that (with qualifications) enumerated lots are intended for residential use, either for housing or as a natural state. *
Why has the POA-BOD converted enumerated lots to a storage facility now accommodating reels of cables for the proposed fiber-optic installation?
AND
Why has the POA-BOD previously announced a plan to cut and pave an access road with security from Broad Creek Road to Caracara using two enumerated lots?
Second, Waterfront Committee (WFC) members are selected for their interest, experience, and abilities related to waterfront construction, maritime issues, and the FH-POA.
The Committee’s charter specifies it should do the following:
- ensure the management of waterfront POA property, and monitor Fairfield Harbour waters and make recommendation to the POA for the benefit of the community overall.
- oversee maintenance planning for bulkheads and docks on POA property; this will include making specific plans for repair and rebuilding as necessary.
- work to keep Fairfield Harbour in compliance with governmental regulations
In February 2023, the Waterfront Committee submitted proposals from four companies to resolve the dangerous conditions of the Inner Harbour bulkheads which, pressed by the dirt behind them, have already collapsed or are near collapse.
According to a reliable source with substantiated facts, the Waterfront Committee strongly recommended one of the four contractors. The WFC recommended bid had two advantages: it proposed to remove the old bulkhead and to follow our provided list of Corps of Engineers standards. The company the BOD chose proposed to leave the old wood bulkhead in place and place the new bulkhead in front of the old structure.
The Waterfront Committee’s recommended company included the cost for the job with three different types of material- wood, corrugated vinyl, and the best flat panel vinyl. The bid from the company the BOD chose included only one material, corrugated vinyl; its option provided to use flat vinyl came with a much higher cost.
A comparison of the two companies using the same less expensive corrugated vinyl shows that the WFC’s recommended contractor had a clear cost advantage of approximately 9%: $288 per ft vs $314 per ft.
The WFC’s contractor recommended using the flat vinyl panels – twice as strong – and a full replacement of the tie-back structure. In other words, it would remove the old bulkhead and follow our provided list of Corps of Engineers standards. The BOD’s contractor choice is, instead, installing the new bulkheads 2 ft in front of the existing bulkheads. When timely repair and replacement were important, the WFC’s contractor was also able to begin much sooner.
The endangered bulkheads are a major piece of infrastructure not just for the waterfront, but for the Inner Harbour’s ties into the stormwater system for most of the area on the Pelican/Caracara side. It’s clearly necessary for our community. While we applaud the BOD’s commitment to this expensive project, we wonder why the POA didn’t choose the lower costing, more permanent solution which meets the Corps of Engineers standards?
And, finally and importantly, why did the POA recently sunset this same Waterfront Committee? Your FACTS Reporter
*Fairfield Harbour DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIONS
Sections 1 – 7
- EXCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL USE AND IMPROVEMENTS No lot shall be used except for single family residential purposes. No structure shall be erected, placed or permitted to remain on any lot other than one (1) detached, single family residence dwelling and such outbuildings as are usually accessory to a single family residence dwelling including a private garage.